diff --git a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/early_serial_console.c b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/early_serial_console.c
index 261e81fb9582..70a8d1706d0f 100644
--- a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/early_serial_console.c
+++ b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/early_serial_console.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 
-int early_serial_base;
+/* This might be accessed before .bss is cleared, so use .data instead. */
+int early_serial_base __section(".data");
 
 #include "../early_serial_console.c"
diff --git a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/misc.c b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/misc.c
index 1cdcaf34ee36..ca6820f99b40 100644
--- a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/misc.c
+++ b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/misc.c
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ memptr free_mem_end_ptr;
 
 static char *vidmem;
 static int vidport;
-static int lines, cols;
+
+/* These might be accessed before .bss is cleared, so use .data instead. */
+static int lines __section(".data");
+static int cols __section(".data");
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_KERNEL_GZIP
 #include "../../../../lib/decompress_inflate.c"